Dependencies
Dependencies let you define relationships between work items to track what must happen before or after each task.
Dependency Types
Cornerstone supports four dependency types:
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Finish-to-Start (FS) | Task B cannot start until Task A finishes |
| Start-to-Start (SS) | Task B cannot start until Task A starts |
| Finish-to-Finish (FF) | Task B cannot finish until Task A finishes |
| Start-to-Finish (SF) | Task B cannot finish until Task A starts |
Finish-to-Start is the most common type -- for example, "Framing must finish before drywall can start."
Adding Dependencies
On the work item detail page, use the dependency section to link work items. The sentence builder interface lets you construct natural-language dependency statements:
"[This work item] cannot start until [Other work item] finishes"
Select the related work item and the dependency type to create the link.
Circular Dependency Detection
Cornerstone automatically prevents circular dependencies. If adding a dependency would create a cycle (A depends on B, B depends on C, C depends on A), the system will reject it with an error message.
The detection uses a depth-first search algorithm to ensure no circular chains exist, regardless of how many work items are involved.
Viewing Dependencies
Dependencies are shown on the work item detail page in two sections:
- Predecessors -- work items that this task depends on
- Successors -- work items that depend on this task
Dependencies on the Timeline
Dependencies are also visualized on the Gantt chart as arrows connecting work item bars. The arrow direction and attachment points reflect the dependency type. Hover over a bar to highlight all its connected arrows. The scheduling engine uses dependencies to calculate optimal dates automatically.